What is there left to say about Sarah Palin?
    Since her public debut just before Labor Day, observing the endless cycle of leftist attacks on her and ponderous conservative commentaries on why the left attacks her has become tedious. Yet like many Americans, I am anything but indifferent to the governor and if a 60-minute news show promises a 30-second blurb on her at the end, I will stay tuned.
    But no one has yet to fully answer, why does the left hate Sarah Palin?
Disclaimer: I am a conservative Republican and I like our VP nominee for her drive, determination, her record of reform in unseating an incumbent Republican governor, her small town, small government philosophy and her stands on certain issues. Her critics, on the other hand, some of whom do voice legitimate concerns, hate her not just because she is supposedly unqualified or because she is Rush Limbaugh in a dress (I forget who said that). We political junkies tend to look at life through the prism of ideology when some answers reflect simple human nature.
    They hate her because she is so darn perfect. No, they will never admit that, but let’s be honest, Sarah Palin flits from one career-topping achievement to the next without ever losing her gosh-darn small-town charm. Her whole life seems to be a seamless, upward trajectory — basketball star, hometown beauty queen, city council member, mayor after defeating a nine-year incumbent and you know the rest.
    High on my resume is that I have learned to lose gracefully. As I write this, though I don’t hate her, I am starting to highly resent her.
    And, of course, she is attractive and is the mother of a beautiful brood who could’ve stepped out of a Sear’s catalog. The oft-played image of the successful governor, holding her newborn to her bosom just after accepting her party’s nomination for VP should have served as an iconic feminist moment, but in some their lesser selves took over and a certain green-eyed monster reared its ugly head.
Then, of course, there’s Todd — handsome, rugged, manly and supportive of his ambitious wife and the consummate stay-at-home dad. What aging, unmarried heterosexual feminist wouldn’t want a man like Todd waiting for her at home after running the state all day?
    {mosimage}Is it any wonder that an unattractive mess like “comedienne’” Sandra Bernhard of an entertainment industry littered with drugs, alcohol, broken relationships and attention-seeking social misfits, would spout off an obscenity-laden attack on even the very idea of a Sarah Palin? And Sarah Palin will probably never know and will surely never care.
She is not in the least contentious and there is not an ounce of arrogance or ego about her. She doesn’t even give her critics the opportunity of dropping the b-word on her. It just doesn’t fit her and they know it and they hate her for it.
    Appearances, of course, can be deceiving and no one knows what, if any, private heartbreak she bears. There is always the suspicion and sometimes the hope that the outwardly successful pay for their fortune like some figure out of Greek tragedy. Certainly, a Down Syndrome baby and a pregnant teen daughter present challenges but she seems no worse for the wear.
    Certainly politics and ideology matter. To many she is simply wrong and even some conservatives think she is unqualified. Nonetheless, a media sensation was born when an Alaska reporter remarked that the new governor, clad in leather boots and a skirt, didn’t fit his image of a Republican. In a celebrity-obsessed, media-saturated culture, she will draw attention even if McCain loses — especially with the prospect of a 2012 presidential run. Everyone is vying for fame in this age of blogs and YouTube and Sarah Palin has already exceeded her 15 minutes. For some that is reason enough to hate her.

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